Renal Replacement Therapy Resources in Africa
Renal Replacement Therapy Resources in Africa
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Date
2008
Authors
Hasan Abu-Aisha
Aziz El Matri
Elwaleed AM Elhassan
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Abstract
Background: Africa is the world’s second-largest and
most-populous continent. It is also the world’s poorest
inhabited continent. Regarding chronic kidney disease
(CKD), there are no reliable statistics in most African
countries. However, there is a general impression that it
is at least three to four times more frequent than in more
developed countries
Methods: a survey on renal replacement therapy in Africa
was conducted in the context of the African Association
of Nephrology (AFRAN) Congress 2007. A questionnaire
was sent to leading African nephrologists, and data were
also collected from the main dialysis supply companies
and by personal communication. Data have been obtained
from 32 out of 54 countries, representing 89% of the total
population.
Results: There are no reliable statistics regarding CKD in
most African countries. The total number of nephrologists
in the continent is 1154 (1-4 pmp). The total number
of patients on hemodialysis (HD) is just over 60000
patients (<50 pmp in many countries). Peritoneal dialysis
(PD) is only available in 12 African countries, and
the total number of PD patients is around 2000. Renal
transplantation is performed in 10 of the 53 countries,
and only five countries have sustained programs that
perform more than 50 cases per year.
Conclusion: CKD is an under-recognized health
challenge in Africa. Research should be encouraged to
gauge the exact incidence and prevalence of CKD in
African countries and define its regional risk factors.
Efforts are needed to train physicians in this specialty,
and strategies for judicious resources allocation should
be implemented.
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Matri, A., Elhassan, E. and Abu-Aisha, H., 2008. Renal replacement therapy resources in Africa. Arab Journal of Nephrology and Transplantation, 1(1), pp.9-14.